Spark and slug catching chute



July 1945- E. G. OCONNOR 2,380,188

SPARK AND SLUG CATCHING CHUTE Filed Dec. 20, 1 43 IN VEN TOR.

QTTOE'NEVS' Patented July 10, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ;,-2,ss0.1ss I SPARK AND sLUo e 'rcHiNo. CHUTE Edward G. O'Connor, New York, N. Y.

Application Dccember 20, 1943, Serial No. 515,069

6 Claims.

My present invention relates to a. portable device to be held against a partition or the like and moved along the path of the cutting torch to receive and quench sparks and slugs.

There is a substantial risk of fire as metal is cut by a torch.- This risk is well illustrated where such partitions as bulkheads are out since the operator can not see what is happening on the opposite side of the partition and fires, particularly bilge fires, may be easily started by the sparks and slugs.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a portable spark and slug catching and quenching device adapted to be easily held against the partition on the side opposite to which the burner is stationed and freely moved along the path of the torch.

My device consists of a head which is insulated so that it may be safely handled by the operator and which has a flanged inlet port to be held against the bulkhead over the zone being cut and an outlet port. One end of a flex'ible conduit is attached to the outlet port, the other end of the conduit being disposed to discharge sparks and slugs into a water-filled receptacle or the like. The head has agas vent and is preferably provided with a window through which the user may observe the path of the torch and readily maintain the device in operative position relative thereto;

The single figure of the drawing shows, in a partly sectioned view, a device in accordance with my invention, held against a bulkhead to receive and quench sparks and slugs resulting from the use of the torch in cutting the bulkhead. Y

X At I0, I have indicated a bulkhead being cut by means of a cutting torch T. A Workman holds the spark and slug receiving and quenching device against the opposite side of the bulkhead.

The device consists of a head II which may be substantially in the form of an elbow having an inlet port ll and an outlet port ll Preferably the inlet port ll is flanged as at l2 to enable a relatively tight joint to be readily established between the head H and the bulkhead l0.. The head II and flange l2 are provided with an asbestos or like insulating jacket, indicated at I3 and M, respectively, to enable the device to be safely handled,

Preferably the inlet port H and the outlet ill are disposed at an angle of substantially relative to each other and the inlet port ll is considerably larger than the outlet ll so that a substantial length of the path of the cutting torch may be covered by the device. At [5, I have shown a window in the head II to enable the workman to watch the cutting so that the head ll may be moved to follow the path of the torch T.

A sleeve It connects a flexible conduit I! to the outlet port li Sparks and slugs are discharged through the conduit I! into suitable quenching means such as the water-filled receptacle 18. In the embodiment of my invention shown, the length of the conduit I! is determined by the distance it is desired to move along the path of the cutting torch Without requiring that the quenching receptacle be moved.

I provide the head H with an upwardly disposed gas vent l9, and, as shown in the drawing, the head I i tapers intermediate the gas vent i9 and the outlet ll The use of spark and slug catching and quenching devices in accordance with my invention is obvious from the foregoing description. In use, the lower end of the conduit I1 is immersed in the water in the receptacle l8 and the workman then places the flanged inlet port over the zone Where the cut is to be started. He then moves the head II as the cut lengthens, thereby ensuring the catching and quenching of all sparks and slugs.

Devices in accordance with my invention are simple and inexpensive in construction and may be easily and safely handled to obviate the risk of fire being caused by flying sparks and slugs unavoidably resulting when cutting torches are being used.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A portable device to be disposed against the partition being cut and moved along the path of the cutting torch to receive sparks and slugs and to transfer them to a water-filled receptacle or like quenching means, said device comprising a hollow head having an inlet port to be disposed against the partition when it is being cut, an outlet port, a window in said head to enable the operator to see the path of the tool, and a conduit connected to said outlet port to effect communication between said head and said receptacle.

2*. The device of claim 1, in which there is a gas venting port intermediate said first-named ports,

3. The device of claim 1, in which the window is intermediate the vent and the inlet.

4. A portable device to be disposed against the partition being cut and moved along the path of the cutting torch to receive sparks and slugs and to transfer them to a water-filled receptacle or like quenching means, said device comprising a hollow insulated head to be held by the operator, said head having a flanged inlet port tobe disposed against the partition being cut, a downwardly opening outlet port disposed at an angle to and being smaller than said inlet port, and an upwardly disposed gas venting port intermediate said first-named ports, and a conduit connected to said outlet port to effect communication between said head and said receptacle.

5. The device of claim 4 in which the head is substantially in the form of an elbow and is tapered intermediate the vent and the outlet port.

6. The device of claim 4 in which the portion of the head adjacent the inlet port is downwardly and rearwardly inclined so that the axis is disposed at an angle not greater than 60 to to the plane defined by the flanged inlet port and the portion of the head adjoining the outlet port is disposed angularly with respect to the first named portion so that the axis of the outlet port is substantially parallel to the partition against which the device is positioned.

EDWARD G. OCONNOR. 

